Tuesday, March 22, 2005 Legislative Day # 36

The House yesterday narrowly passed a Senate Bill which would allow divers to extract century old logs from some of Georgia’s waterways. This valuable harvest is left over from when timber was moved on rivers. The practice would be permitted and regulated by the Department of Natural resources.

After considerable debate, however, and passing by just one vote House members agreed to reconsider their actions at a later date.

Also approved was the “Georgia Smokefree Air Act”. The measure bans smoking in government facilities, enclosed public facilities, all places of employment, and common areas in multiple-units residential facilities.

Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined between fifty and one hundred dollars.

Additionally, the House revisited a proposal which fizzled at last encounter and approved a measure making sparklers legal in Georgia. The bill carefully spells out the size of sparklers which are allowable and prohibits their sale to children.

If you would like to schedule at time to record this message through the House Communications Radio Studio, please contact Bill Bahr at 404-656-0444.